As workflow efficiency and data reproducibility are common challenges faced by scientists for high throughput laboratories, GenScript has developed unique automation technologies to address the bottlenecks to a wide range of applications across plasmid purification, protein and antibody purification, western blotting and cell isolation. The various automation solutions will help scientists optimize their workflows and achieve data consistency and reliability using innovative AmMagTM magnetic systems, GMP grade cell isolation system and first-in-class western blotting systems.

At the event, you'll learn about GenScript's state-of-the-art automated systems including:

• AmMag™ Quatro: automated Maxi-scale plasmid purification

• AmMag™ SA: automated protein and antibody purification

• Cystosinct™ 1000: automated cell isolation and activation

• eZwest™ Lite: automated western blotting

• eBlot™ L1 and L2: wet protein transfer for mini and midi Gels

• eStain L1: fast staining and detaining

The integration of scientific instruments and robotics is often a barrier for physical scientists developing new autonomous discovery capabilities. At Argonne National Laboratory, the Rapid Prototyping Laboratory (RPL) team has made progress toward fully automated laboratories through the development of an open-source, extensible and Python-centric software framework called the Workflow Execution Interface (WEI). WEI enables scientists to coordinate the diverse instruments and services required for stepwise execution of various experimental workflows using human-readable YAML formatted definitions. Additionally, Docker containers facilitate the deployment and operation of instruments that can be controlled via various protocols, including REST, ROS2, and others, allowing for the rapid integration of new instruments with minimal effort. WEI successfully enabled autonomous experimentation in benchmark studies and has since been deployed into other exemplar experiments in the fields of biology and material science.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Illustrate how to integrate robotic instruments for autonomous discovery

2. Review on the state of autonomous discovery at Argonne National Laboratory

In the MIT Media Lab global synthetic biology course How To Grow (Almost) Anything, students from MIT, Harvard, and a global classroom of hundreds learn concepts and skills at the forefront of synthetic biology. Topics include DNA and protein design with AI tools to organism engineering and bio design, with students developing hands-on skills enabling them to grow (almost) anything by the end of the course. However, during the pandemic, with laboratories closed, our instructor team was forced to innovate, and we taught our students lab automation and python, enabling them to conduct experiments from (almost) anywhere. From this experience we developed a model for distance-learning and synthetic biology education utilizing a robotic cloud lab network. In this talk, I will discuss our work in establishing this network, collaborative group research projects enabled by this cloud lab, and our visions for the future for how such infrastructure can address challenges in bioliteracy and workforce development for building our future bio economy.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Review how robotics can enable distance learning.

2. Summarize concepts at the frontiers of synthetic biology education.

3. Discover models for project and passion-driven learning.

Join this year's poster presenters in the Poster Hall during the Poster Discussion, Wednesday, March 20th, from 10:00 AM –11:00 AM PDT, to chat live about their posters and latest research and findings.

Nanovials are emerging as an accessible platform for performing single-cell functional screening leveraging standard instrumentation, such as flow cytometers and microfluidic single-cell sequencing platforms. Each cell and its secreted products are captured in nanovials where they can be analyzed and sorted using widely available fluorescence activated cell sorters. I will first touch on previously demonstrated applications of using the nanovial platform to discover monoclonal antibodies and focus discussion on our recent work using nanovials for the selection of T cells based on their secretion of cytokines and downstream sequencing of T cell receptors (TCRs). Nanovials enable selective binding, functional characterization of secretion of cytokines and other effector molecules, followed by sorting of T cells for downstream sequencing of T cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chains, with functional annotation. Because both binding and cellular function can be assayed for millions of cells with standard equipment, this new "lab on a particle" approach can accelerate the discovery of monoclonal antibodies, cancer-specific TCRs, and TCRs against metabolites presented by unconventional major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-like molecules, with high accuracy, promising to transform the discovery of therapeutic antibodies and critical recognition elements for improved T cell therapies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover how nanovial-based workflows can accelerate discovery of T cell receptors (TCRs).

2. Summarize how to associate secreted information from single cells to transcriptomic information.

3. Review other discovery approaches and unique benefits for using nanovials for functional annotation of TCRs.

This talk will focus on the essential steps needed to prepare for integrated lab automation: we will discuss the suitability of your lab for automation beyond liquid handlers, the information required by lab automation platforms, and the steps involved in automating your processes. Additionally, we will explore the implementation phase.

The 21st century brought with it an unprecedented number of global and regional economic and political crises, giving rise to a new generation of conflicts in which novel technological, biological, and chemical weaponry are being deployed. These crises are being exacerbated by the emergence of a combination of new and old biological threats, most notably the novel COVID-19 pathogen, existing viruses once thought to be virtually extinct due to wide adoption of vaccination, and bacterial weaponry such as Bacillus anthracis (anthrax). Collectively, these events have been a catalyst for the development of analytical technologies for rapidly detecting and characterizing biological entities, and, in particular, for quickly developing countermeasures against these pathogens. In this work we leverage the automated sample handling capabilities of liquid handling robots with a custom fully integrated mass spectrometry platform utilizing high-throughput desorption electrospray ionization and two-dimensional tandem mass spectrometry (2D MS/MS) for characterization of several model biological organisms (bacteria and viruses) and for determination of medical countermeasure efficacy against each threat. The metabolomic and lipidomic results from the DESI-2D MS/MS system - operating at a sampling rate of ~300 samples/hr - are compared with those from a benchtop LC-MS/MS system operating at a more conventional sampling rate of ~4 samples/hr.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Define high-throughput screening in the context of mass spectrometry.

2. Describe at least 3 techniques for conducting high-throughput screening by mass spectrometry.

3. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of high-throughput mass spectrometry vs. liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

This talk will focus on doing method validation work in an environment where data is gathered from laboratory information systems and chromatography data systems. We’ll see how these systems can be connected, their data used and refined with additional calculations to be the foundation of method validation work.

Depending on the type of data and the underlying method validation requirements such projects can be demanding, both in terms of data handling efforts and compliance. Projects can be huge (wastewater, environmental analysis, trace analysis) with high data volumes to be transferred, additional calculations might be necessary to prepare the data for our method validation calculations. All calculations must be either available as standard or be simply defined on a per-project basis.

The resulting reports must contain both detailed results as well as automatically created summaries – zero-effort reporting. If necessary, additional material such as documents and images need to merge with the final document. Whatever information will be generated, it must be usable as printout or document export and available as input-feeds for external systems in well-defined formats (database, XML, JSON). All that must be simple in use and powerful in compliance – workflows, audit trails and revision history is mandatory.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss how to connect your LIMS and CDS systems and transfer your data effortlessly.

2. Review your calculations and get a detailed report with automatic summaries.

3. Summarize how to ensure compliance by managing audit trails, revision history and signatures.

Embarking on the journey of LIMS data migration, whether it's transitioning to a new LIMS or upgrading to a more advanced version, may initially appear as a straightforward task. However, beneath the surface lie complexities that warrant careful consideration and strategic handling.

The paramount goal of data migration is to ensure the flawless transfer of data while effectively mitigating the risks associated with potential disruptions. The risk of data loss, the complexity associated with converting data formats, and the persistent concerns regarding data security loom large, presenting formidable challenges. Tackling these challenges demands a strategic approach, technical expertise, and commitment to risk mitigation.

Navigating through the stages of the migration process, from thorough planning to data extraction, transformation, cleaning, validation, and loading, requires a precise and well-executed set of steps. Moreover, opting for a migration approach, be it parallel migration, incremental migration, or big-bang migration, involves a comprehensive evaluation of its pros and cons.

The efficacy of any data management system hinges on the accuracy and quality of the data it houses. Thus, irrespective of the improvements promised by the target LIMS system over the source LIMS or legacy sources, the journey toward laboratory modernization remains incomplete without careful data migration.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Explain what LIMS data migration is and what the challenges associated with it are.

2. Summarize the various steps involved in LIMS data migration and the different migration approaches labs can adopt.

3. Descibe what the best practices for LIMS data migration are.

Validation of computerised systems is a regulatory requirement for both GMP and GLP laboratories. Although computerised system validation (CSV) has been required for over 40 years, the approaches within laboratories can be an inflexible and one size fits all approach. The presentation will use risk-based approaches that meet regulatory compliance and leverage a supplier’s software development and testing to reduce the amount of validation required.

This will encompass the following:

• Mapping and redesign to simplify an analytical process prior to major project implementation e.g. LIMS or a networked CDS

• Using the maps to define user requirements: defining intended use

• Does the laboratory fit the LIMS or vice versa? The configuration versus customisation debate.

• How to leverage the supplier’s software development and testing to reduce in-house validation

• How to validate GAMP software category 3 computerised systems using a single integrated validation document

Learning Objectives: 

1. Review how process mapping can be used to streamline and simplify an analytical process and be an input to user requirements.

2. Demonstrate how to assess a supplier's software development processes to reduce your validation effort.

3. Identify when you can reduce validation of a computerized system to a single document.

Drug developers are consistently aiming to enhance clinical relevance in drug discovery. CRISPR has emerged as a versatile tool to accelerate the entire drug discovery process, with arrayed CRISPR screening offering extensive genome coverage and richer datasets. However, conducting arrayed CRISPR screens with translatable cell models (such as primary cells, iPSCs, etc.) presents challenges due to cost and the need for large cellular inputs, which often necessitates donor pooling and results in heterogeneous datasets. To address these challenges and facilitate genome-wide arrayed CRISPR screening in patient-derived cells, a novel automated microfluidic system has been developed. This system miniaturizes non-viral transfection, significantly reducing the number of cells required per edit while maintaining high efficiency and viability. It enables efficient delivery of various payloads (mRNA, DNA, proteins, RNP) and gene editing across different cell types and structures (including primary immune cells, iPSCs). A custom 48-plex editing cartridge and its associated workflow for automation integration have been introduced, allowing for thousands of edits daily without human intervention. This approach offers the potential for rapid, cost-effective, high-throughput discovery at the resolution of individual patients, which could lead to a reduction in drug candidate attrition and the advancement of personalized therapies.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Demonstrate Knowledge with gene editing, microfluidics and non-viral delivery methods.

2. Review the uses of a low-volume high-throughput transfection platform for gene editing applications.

3. Discover the applicability of an automation-ready digital microfluidics platform for high-throughput arrayed CRISPR screening.